The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed the CBI’s challenge against a trial court order that allowed copies/inspection of documents by Congress leader P. Chidambaram, his son Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and other accused in the INX Media case.
Justice Mukta Gupta rejected the CBI’s opposition to the accused accessing and inspecting documents on the grounds that the probe in the INX Media case is still going on. The CBI had challenged the trial court order saying that the inspection of documents by the accused may result in evidence tampering.
It had sought to set aside a special judge’s March 5 order that directed the agency to allow inspection of documents kept in the malkhana by the accused or their counsel.
The trial court had said the ends of justice shall be met if the accused is permitted to inspect documents collected by the CBI to find out if such document is relevant or vital for their defence or is of a sterling quality to demolish the very case of the prosecution.
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In its plea, the CBI had said that the INX Media case involved a high level of corruption with wide ramifications on society. While the accused have a right to a fair trial, the collective interest of the society could not impinge, the plea said.
The CBI had also alleged that INX Media had engaged a firm linked to Karti Chidambaram to resolve an issue with the Income Tax Department and in turn received undue favours. The CBI registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as Finance Minister in the then UPA government.
The Delhi High Court had on May 18 stayed trial proceedings in the case involving Chidambaram and his son.